Pregnancy & Vision Changes

During pregnancy your weight changes, your skin changes, your mood changes and even your vision changes. These are the joys and trials of pregnancy.

During pregnancy, a woman’s body changes drastically to prepare for the birth of her child. An increase in hormones often causes vision changes, which usually return to normal after delivery.

Eye changes during pregnancy may include:

Blurry vision

Dry eyes

Changes in glasses or contact lens prescription

Contact lens discomfort

Further deterioration of pre-existing eye conditions

During pregnancy, the front surface of the eye, the cornea, can become more susceptible to infection, making contact lens wear difficult. In the back of the eye, pre-existing retinal conditions such as diabetic retinopathy can worsen. Other possible eye changes include distorted vision secondary to fluid build-up in the eye, and visual field disturbances or changes in visual perception due to a hormone-secreting tumor. Women who have been on fertility drugs should be especially aware of any fluctuations in their vision.

Vision Problems May Warn of Other Ailments

Vision problems can serve as a warning that an expectant mother is suffering from other health problems such as high blood pressure. Blurred vision may indicate that a woman has Gestational Diabetes, an elevation of blood sugar during the last half of a pregnancy.

Blurred vision or spots in front of the eyes may also be a warning signal that the expectant mother is experiencing Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (PIH), and increase in blood pressure which usually occurs after the 20th week. PIH generally resolves itself after delivery but early treatment is vital to minimizing complications with the pregnancy. Preeclampsia, in which blood pressure is elevated to a much more threatening level, can cause hemorrhages in the eye and even a detached retina.

Since vision changes can be an indication of a larger health problem, please call our office if you experience temporary vision conditions during pregnancy.